OCEAN CITY — Quarterback Damon Mitchell and the Cedar Creek High School football team romped to a 47-0 win over Ocean City on Friday in the Pirates’ Cape-Atlantic League debut.
It was 40-0 at halftime and Cedar Creek coasted to the win as a running clock ticked away in the second half.
Cedar Creek, in only its second year of varsity football, looked like a contender for the CAL National Conference championship.
“It definitely feels special to win our first Cape-Atlantic League game like this,” said coach Tim Watson. “The boys were fired up and played great. We have young guys up front and we put a challenge to them.
“They stepped up and worked to get us tough yards. With ‘Duwop’ (Mitchell) on the edge, it allows for all our other running backs to be involved, and we were running on all cylinders.”
The Pirates ran right through Ocean City, starting in the first two minutes with a an apparent 45-yard touchdown by Mitchell that was called back to the Red Raiders’ 27 due to an illegal block. Mitchell ran for 22 yards on the next play, and Gary Melton scored around left end two plays later.
Melton scored again in the second quarter on a 19-yard touchdown, again around the left side.
“I want to give credit to our line because they haven’t gotten a lot of respect,” said Melton, 17, a senior from Mays Landing. “With Duwop directing us, we had some great plays. We worked so hard in our practices. I’m really proud of the team.”
The Pirates continued to score throughout the first half.
Mitchell, who has verbally committed to Georgia Tech University on a scholarship, was far more impressive than his final numbers. He ran for 52 yards on six carries and scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak. He was also 4-for-7 with 47 passing yards, including a 16-yard TD pass to Nolan Seward.
“I didn’t think we would win this big, but I had a lot of faith in our guys,” said Mitchell, 18, of Mays Landing. “The line set the traps and opened some big holes.”
Cedar Creek has a female kicker in senior Emily Kruger. She made 5-of-6 extra-point attempts. Another attempt was a broken play and the ball was never kicked.
Seward also scored two touchdowns. He returned a punt 65 yards up the left side for Cedar Creek’s second touchdown with 5 minutes, 42 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Pirates made it 40-0 just before haltime as defensive back Caleb Graves picked up an Ocean City fumble in the backfield and ran it back 20 yards for a score.
The only score of the second half came with 1:31 left to play as Cedar Creek substitute quarterback Nate Pauls ran untouched 64 yards around left end for a touchdown. Pauls is a sophomore.
Ocean City running backs Frank Woolley and Owen Dierolf got most of the carries for the Red Raiders. O.C. lacked a passing game.
“We have a long way to go and a lot to learn,” Ocean City coach Kevin Smith. “Everyone will come back (today) and lift and look at the films. We have to dedicate ourselves to get better.”
Contact Guy Gargan:
609-272-7210
